The history of philosophical systems is a
history of the development of the mind of humanity. The systems are
only valuable as testimonials to the endless extent and possibility
of human thought. All the systems put together do not contain a
spark of objective truth."
"That is upon the whole the difference between natural science and
metaphysics," said Schrotter. "Science regulates the boundary
between what is known and what is not known, and declares when the
limit is reached. Our knowledge has attained to a certain point, and
beyond that we know and understand nothing, absolutely nothing.
Metaphysics will not stop at that limit. It confuses knowledge and
dreams together, and manufactures out of the two something quite
worthless. It explains things which it does not understand, and
which cannot be understood, and offers us detailed descriptions of
countries into which it has never traveled, and where mankind
probably never will travel."
"May I say a word in defence of your metaphysics?" said Dorfling,
with a slight smile.
"Yes, go on," cried Barinskoi. He had drunk more than all the rest
put together, and the serious conversation seemed to afford him
great amusement.
"Look here, Eynhardt. I cannot possibly uphold your statement that
metaphysics do not contain a spark of objective truth.
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